Row over Ofsted chief’s ‘teachers must work harder’ comments

England’s chief inspector of schools has sparked anger with claims that teachers should work longer hours to earn more money.

Speaking to the Times, Sir Michael Wilshaw insisted schools should be more selective when awarding pay rises to their staff and said teachers who are ‘out the gate at 3pm’ should not receive a promotion.

Sir Michael Wilshaw has been criticised for his comments on teachers’ pay (PA)

He suggested that only teachers who stay behind after school and ‘go the extra mile’ for their pupils, particularly at schools in poor communities, should be rewarded.

‘We just have to accept the reality of that. If you are going to go and work in these areas, there has to be a commitment to working beyond the end of the school day,’ Sir Michael told the newspaper.

However, the Ofsted chief’s remarks have been criticised by the National Union of Teachers, which said pay should not be determined at school level.

The union’s deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney said Sir Michael had given the impression he ‘wants to be at war with teachers in this country’.

Mr Courtney added: ‘We don’t want a system where head teachers pick and choose favourites for pay rises.’